Spreader for bundled electric conductors



1964 A. T. FLOWER ETAL 3,161,723

SPREADER FOR BUNDLED ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS Filed May 9, 1963 valxgmnmuam INVENTORS Rizal-HEAL!) T. FLOLUER 'rJoHu lMacPuezsou ATTORNEY United States Patent es n i. Macks-e This invention relates to a spreader for bundl d electric conductors.

It is an object or" the invention to provide a spr- Which will hold conductors, in spaced apart relation, with the conductors disposed in sa iorizontal Til 1 and one of the conductors, which as a messenger raised above the plane of other conductors to facililate the connection of service l es to the conductors.

A further object of the ion resides in providing a spreader composed of lot/ti 3. plates formed of s.... able insulation mater al, on i plate having spaced notches formed in one edge and a hook shaped member formed along the opposite edge, the said ates being pivotally connected together at the center the notches of said lates in register and hoe s or the ates extending in opposite directions with t1 in overlapping relation forming an aperture for reception of one of the conductors.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a pair of parallel plates pivotally connected together, at the center, plate having a hook formed along one edge, ti... heel of one plate being opposed to the hook ot the 0th plate with the ends of the hoolrs in overlapping relation to form o ing to receive one of the conductors, and alined apcrt res through said plates adapted. to receive a hail Wire for stitching a service Wire and hold plates from retain-g.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the sa re,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spreader in operativc position,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the spreader, and,

FEG. 3 is a cross section taken on line of FIG. 2.

in the drawing, a pair of plates 5 and s, of substantially square shape, are disposed in parallel abutting relation and are pivotally connected together by a grommet '7. The plates are constructed of suitable insulation material such as glass fiber reinforced polyester. The lower edge of both plates is provided With spaced apart notches h, With the notches of one plate in register with the notches of the other plate. The upper edge of each plate has a hook shaped member 9 extending longitudinally oi the edge, With the hook member of plat 5 extending in a direction opposite to that of the hook member of plate 6 and having the ends of the hooks disposed in parallel overlapping relation to define an opening it? midway the length of the upper edge. The plates adjacent each of the side edges or the plates are provided with registering apertures N. The opening is is adapted to receive the top conductor or messenger 12 While the notches 8 receive the conductors 13 of the bundled wires 14. A ball 15 is inserted through the apertures ill for supporting a service line and to hold the plates against rotation.

In use, the bundled wires i i are spread apart and the plates 5 and 6 are rotated in opposite directions to separate the ends of the hooks 9 to allow the conductor 12 to be inserted in the opening lit. After insertion of the conductor the plates are rotated to move the ends of the hooks in o overlap ug relation to retain the conductor in the opening and when the hooks are in overlapping relation the notches ii in the lower edges of the plates in alineincnt to receive the conductors 13. After the conductors are seated in the opening 9 and notches 8, the bail 3153 for supporting the service wire is inserted through the apertures ll thereby holding the plates ct rotation.

it is to he understood that the invention herein shown and described is a preferred example of the same and changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit or" the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having th described our invention, we claim:

1. A spreader for bundled electric conductors comprising a pair of plates disposed in parallel abutting relation, pivot means disposed medially of said plates rotatably connecting said plates together, each of said plates having a like plurality of spaced apart upwardly extending note in lower cage thereof, and hook members eater ling longitudinally of the upper edges of said plates in oppos e d ections, w h the end of the hook of one plate ove the the hook of the other plate to define an opening to receive a conductor, and with the notches of one plate registering with the notches of the other plate to receive the other conductors.

Z. A spreader for bundled electric conductors comprising a pair of plates disposed in parallel abutting relation, ot roe-ans disposed medially of said plates rotatably said plates to her, hook members extending lor i udinally of the ipper edges of sai plates in oppo directions, v-.- the end of the hook of one plate overlapping the end of the hook of the other plate to define an opening for surrounding a conductor, the ends of hooks being separable upon rotation of said plates in or osite directions for insertion of a conductor in said opening, each of said plates having a like plurality of spaced apart upwardly extending notches in the lower edges thereof, with tho notches of one plate registering with respective notches of the other plate when the ends of said hooks are disposed in overlapped position, whereby to receive a conductor in a registering pair of notches.

3. The invention or" claim 2 in which both plates are of identical construction.

A spreader for bundled electric conductors comprising a pair of plates, means rotatahly connecting said plates together in parallel abutting relation, the lower edge of each plate having spaced apart upwardly extending notches, with the notches of one plate adapted to register with the notches of the other plate, a hook member formed on the upper edge of each plate at opposite ends of said plates, the hills of said hooks extending in parallel relation to the upper edge of said plates with their free ends disposed in overlapping relation to define an opening to receive a conductor, and means extending through registering openings formed in said plates to hold said plates against rotation.

References tilted by the examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JGHN EURNS, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. WlLDMAN, Examiner. 

1. A SPREADER FOR BUNDLED ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS COMPRISING A PAIR OF PLATES DISPOSED IN PARALLEL ABUTTING RELATION, PIVOT MEANS DISPOSED MEDIALLY OF SAID PLATES ROTATABLY CONNECTING SAID PLATES TOGETHER, EACH OF SAID PLATES HAVING A LIKE PLURALITY OF SPACED APART UPWARDLY EXTENDING NOTCHES IN THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF, AND HOOK MEMBERS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID PLATES IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, WITH THE END OF THE HOOK OF ONE PLATE OVERLAPPING THE END OF THE HOOK OF THE OTHER PLATE TO DEFINE AN OPENING TO RECEIVE A CONDUCTOR, AND WITH THE NOTCHES OF ONE PLATE REGISTERING WITH THE NOTCHES OF THE OTHER PLATE TO RECEIVE THE OTHER CONDUCTORS. 